Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez teases 'bonggang' Noble Queen of the Universe pageant this year | Inquirer Entertainment

Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez teases ‘bonggang’ Noble Queen of the Universe pageant this year

/ 11:10 AM January 08, 2023

Newly-crowned Noble Queen of the Universe Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez/ARMIN P. ADINA

Newly-crowned Noble Queen of the Universe Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez/ARMIN P. ADINA

MANILA, Philippines — The Noble Queen of the Universe Ltd. Inc. (NQULI) has this practice where they hold their coronation program in the country of the reigning top winner. The most recent one was held in Japan because the top-ranked queen is Japanese, and the previous one was held in the San Diego because the main titleholder in 2020 was from the United States.

Former Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez captured the top prize last month, which means the competition will be hosted in the Philippines anew this year.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Medyo bongga ang plano ngayon, dati kasi hindi dahil sa pandemic. May virtual pa nga noong time nina Giselle [Sanchez]. So ngayon mas bongga yata this year,” she shared with the Inquirer at the sidelines of the victory party for her and her fellow 2022 queens at the Windmills and Rainforest in Quezon City on Jan. 6.

FEATURED STORIES

(“They are planning to go a bit grand this time, because they were not able to do so before due to the pandemic. During Giselle [Sanchez’s] time it was virtual. So this year I think it will be grand.”)

Romualdez carried the Visayas in the annual event, held at the Tokyo Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 29. She inherited the Noble Queen of the Universe crown from Modoka Kudeken from Japan.

Article continues after this advertisement

The organization also bestowed titles to three more Filipino queens—Noble Queen International Leira Buan from Mindanao, Noble Queen Earth Sheralene Shirata from Luzon, and Noble Queen of the Universe Ltd. Marjorie Renner who represented the United States.

Article continues after this advertisement
Former Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez (second from left) is joined by her fellow 2022 NQULI titleholders (from left) Leira Buan, Sheralene Shirata, and Marjorie Renner./ARMIN P. ADINA

Former Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez (second from left) is joined by her fellow 2022 NQULI titleholders (from left) Leira Buan, Sheralene Shirata, and Marjorie Renner./ARMIN P. ADINA

Romualdez said she found it “surreal” to be a beauty queen at this stage in her life. “I never really dreamed of joining a pageant. I was scared when I was younger, and I thought you had to be 5’7” or 5’8” to join, so I never really thought about it then,” she shared.

Article continues after this advertisement

She trained under renowned beauty queen-maker Rodgil Flores of the famed “Kagandahang Flores” pageant camp to help with her stage presentation. “I was still nervous walking the pageant stage. I’m not nervous when it comes to singing or acting, but I was still a bit shy walking, I was not used to it,” she continued.

But she said she is glad to have given it a shot, because the experience helped her gain new friends from other countries. She also hopes to take advantage of her new circle and crown to expand her charity work for abused women and children.

Article continues after this advertisement

Romualdez said she offers her victory to God, because “whatever I do, it’s really for the Lord.”

It was her fellow actress Patricia Javier, NQULI national director for the Philippines and international director, who convinced Romualdez to take part in the annual event. EDV

RELATED STORIES:

LOOK: Celeste Cortesi heads to New Orleans for 71st Miss Universe pageant

Catriona Gray will be backstage commentator for Miss Universe; Olivia Culpo back as host

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Beauty Pageant, Beauty queen

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.